May is an important time of year to recognize healthcare staff. National Nurses Week is May 6-12 and National Hospital Week is May 8-12. How will you recognize your healthcare staff?

Celebrating National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are five free and low cost ways to express your appreciation during these recognition weeks.

1. Casual Day. Let employees throughout the company come to work casual and in their corporate gear: t-shirts, polos, and hats. Employees love being able to wear jeans to work, and it doesn’t cost you anything!

2. Send an ePraise. Send a personal note during National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week expressing your appreciation for the individual’s contribution to the team. A personal note is a sincere and meaningful way to express appreciation, and you can send one for free via email with ePraise.

3. Hand Out Snack Packs. It doesn’t take much to put together individual snack bags for the nurses on your staff. Compile snack size bags of crackers, fruit snacks, and nuts in a gift bag. Attach a gift tag and present to everyone on your team! The snacks will be appreciated throughout the day and give everyone a boost of energy.

4. Play a Game. You can easily coordinate a game for the cafeteria to take place during breaks. Set up a bean bag toss or Minute to Win It game. Have a tablet of paper nearby so staff and record their score and track the performance of their peers. Or print out a puzzle staff can complete during their lunch. Enter all correct puzzles in a drawing for a prize.

5. Make them Smile with Print and Posts. Download our free National Nurses Week Print and Posts to make your entire staff smile! Simply download and print out the PDF. Then cut out the individual sentiments, and tape them throughout the building where nurses will see them. You can put them on lockers, doors, the microwave, and refrigerator. The fun sayings are guaranteed to make them smile!

For more National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week appreciation ideas, visit these articles in our Recognition Resource Center:

 The Best National Nurses Week Celebration
 Hospital Implements Employee Appreciation Ideas for Successful Week-Long Celebration
 Big Staff Recognition, Little Cost for One Pediatric Hospital
 Five Ways to Appreciate Teachers and Nurses

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

Last week I made the case for “why” to recognize nurses during National Nurses Week, so I thought this week it would be helpful to talk about “how.”

We know nurses are always on the go, on their feet, and on their game. So, why not give them the gift of:

Convenience. Travel mugs, tote bags, and key chains are all gifts that busy professionals can use every day. Plus, they give a constant reminder of your appreciation.

Comfort. Being run ragged all day can take its toll. Our Recognition Moments Tin has as assortment of 25 soothing gifts to give your nurses a little breather. This tin has enough to recognize your entire staff, and the variety of items means you’ll find something for everyone.

Encouragement. Remember what I said about thankless? Sometimes people just want to know that they’re appreciated. A simple thank you card with a personalized, handwritten note can go a long way.

Opportunity. Breaks don’t come often in the nursing profession. A little time off—or something just as valuable like a free lunch, snack, or coffee—could be all your nurses need to recharge. Our On-the-Go Appreciation Kit has fill-in notes and coupons that let you choose what you want to give.  

Admiration. Show them some respect by giving a gift they will wear with pride. Themed badge reels and lapel pins attach perfectly to scrubs and carry inspiring messages that your nurses will be thrilled to show off.

So, there you go! You have the who (nurses), what & how (see above), where (in their natural habitat, of course), when (May 6-12) and why (read about it here). Now, go out there and celebrate National Nurses Week!

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Allison is Baudville’s one (and only) Copywriter. She’s been writing for a variety of media for more than eight years, so if she tells you she has been there and done that, she probably has. Before embarking on a career in writing, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She’s what we call a true believer!

Almost a year ago to this day, I woke up at 5:00 in the morning in more pain than I’ve ever felt in my life. As I writhed and cursed the black bean burrito I’d eaten the night before, it became evident that I was headed to the emergency room.

A few hours later, I was basking in the bright, sterile glow that comes after three IV injections of painkiller and the peace of mind that there was nothing serious wrong with me.

It was in this lucid state, with nurses, doctors, and technicians all bustling around me that I had the foresight to ask someone what the hospital was planning to do for National Nurses Week. I wished for pen and paper and braced myself for the onslaught of useful information I would receive that I could share with my coworkers when I returned to work. Instead, what I heard was, “nothing, really.”

What?!

I couldn’t have been more shocked. Had it not been for the expert and attentive care of these professionals, I would…well, I don’t know what I would have done. I was in remarkable pain. And they took care of me with concern, immediacy, and total effectiveness. At the time it seemed like a miracle. And, therefore, a travesty that these individuals would not receive recognition during a week dedicated solely to them.   

Every day, people like me (and those much worse off) rely on nurses and healthcare professionals to make it all better. And very often they do, or certainly do everything in their power to. And the most amazing part is that they often do so after a double shift or while doing five other things at once—all while employing the educated and critical mind required to deal with life or death situations.

Nursing is often called a thankless profession. I can’t think of a better time than National Nurses Week—coming up May 6-12—to turn that around!

Just in time, we’ve designed an all new theme that makes it easy (and affordable!) to thank these compassionate and dedicated individuals.

On-the-go medical professionals will appreciate these useful gifts that give them a constant reminder of your gratitude! Check out the entire collection here.

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Allison is Baudville’s one (and only) Copywriter. She’s been writing for a variety of media for more than nine years, so if she tells you she has been there and done that, she probably has. Before embarking on a career in writing, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She’s what we call a true believer!